Yay I got promoted.. again?

[reeses16 8]

I think there are a few things to consider. Given the economy, you're in a pretty good situation. But I understand you feel that you are being undervalued. Maybe rethinking how you are compensated. Instead of thinking in terms of my salary is this much, look at your salary and your benefits. Given your skills and the fact that it sounds like you are doing some IT work without the pay, maybe begin a new approach. Talk to your manager about increasing your benefits. If the company doesn't have it in the budget to increase your salary, may they could give you an extra 2-3 weeks of paid vacation.

At the same time, I think you should begin an exit strategy. Update your resume. Save more of your salary to ease your transition to a new position when it becomes available. I think you may want to actively network if you haven't been already.

[ginger1981 0]

Have you spoke to someone in the company about it? Sometimes all it takes is speaking up. One of the men I assist in my job is the top dog in his field (leasing space in shopping centers) and I point blank asked him to teach me how to do deals. He's basically done the same thing with some of his past assistants and they later went into leasing, so he seemed like a good person to ask...and it is also convenient for him to have someone very knowledgeable helping him with intricate details of the job.

I would try to identify someone like that in the company...someone who would be willing to help you move up in the company. They don't even have to be someone you work directly under...just network with some co-workers who have some influence and see how it goes. Personally, I would suggest scheduling lunch or after work drinks s a good way of networking but keeping it somewhat casual.

Haha...it looks like you are doing too good of a job! IMHO, it sounds like some people don't want to let you go.

Are there other positions in the company that you have interest in doing besides IT? How about the IT manager there...did he have any suggestions?

That's the thing, I have spoke to people. I've talked to a lot of people I've made it clear that yes I'm very grateful to have a decent job but.. that isn't the job I would normally do. My manager knew before they hired me they where hiring an IT person to fill a office person position. I very badly needed a job at the time and they well got a good deal on an office person I've since talked to my manager and said, look I want to go back to IT.. I've made them very aware that I'm experienced, trained and even certified here in the US as an IT Technician.

I've been looking for other jobs but there isn't anything out there at the minute. The cities, counties and state don't appear to have anything available. Private companies at the minute appear to be offering not so good pay/leaves/benefits compared to what I've got right now. I've seen the perfect job pop up for me in another state, only thing was it's federal and I'm not a citizen I am looking into working outside office hours but, the cost of setting up is quite a lot I mean so many different jurisdictions, taxes, licenses.. I mean can't things be run from the top down, so many layers all doing the same thing. Then there's insurances' lots of insurances'...

[aidan80 9]

Aidan you just sound like a nice guy who is grateful to have a job, as you already know (Aidan and I have discussed this subject) the job market for IT personnel in Central Florida is atrocious - so I understand where you are coming from. I don't think you are being ungrateful at all, just because you have a job doesn't mean you can't want a better job - more suited to your skills.

Someone said that your employer does realize what they have - that is probably true, someone also said that they probably can't really afford your skills - that is no doubt true also.

On an up-note - Apple is moving in to Orlando very very soon (like in the next couple of weeks) - for a few months - approx 5 - they are hiring 400 people for technical support.

They are paying $ 14 an hour.

Now the good part of this, as far as I can see, is that it will potentially take 400 tecchies off the job market for 5 months

You're correct the job market is quite terrible here at the minute. I think I've got as much "compensation" out of my employer as I can. As I don't work for the private sector I doubt they'll give me any extra leaves or anything They are nazi's for time keeping as it is, if I'm a minute late I feel like I'm an hour late!!

To be 100% honest, they can afford more in fact they can afford to give the brown nosiers their own take home vehicles and others a few extra $$ per hour I'm sure they could afford a decent rate for me. It's about want, need and who has who's noise up who's ####### it's a game I don't play.

I had heard apple is moving to Orlando but, there isn't anything in this planet that would get me to drive in that circus of traffic for $14 an hour. Anyway I make a bit more than that without the commute and it's more stable than 5 months .. anyway I don't like the old hackintosh quite that much that I'd want to support a machine that never breaks?

I really should just be glad I have the job I've got for now, it does give me time to plan a way out!

[aidan80 9]

I think there are a few things to consider. Given the economy, you're in a pretty good situation. But I understand you feel that you are being undervalued. Maybe rethinking how you are compensated. Instead of thinking in terms of my salary is this much, look at your salary and your benefits. Given your skills and the fact that it sounds like you are doing some IT work without the pay, maybe begin a new approach. Talk to your manager about increasing your benefits. If the company doesn't have it in the budget to increase your salary, may they could give you an extra 2-3 weeks of paid vacation.

At the same time, I think you should begin an exit strategy. Update your resume. Save more of your salary to ease your transition to a new position when it becomes available. I think you may want to actively network if you haven't been already.

I agree, we're in a good situation I've no doubt there are many in worse situations. I'm not complaining we both make enough to live on at the minute. My definition of "live on" is cover the bills, buy food.. luckily we still have enough left to go out to eat, see a movie or buy something that's needed. We live in a fairly small house compared to what most people live in for our pay range, but then we've little or no debt. I mean we could go out tomorrow buy a new car, a house and spend the rest of our days just about paying for it all. I think I got all the "benefits" I'll be getting outta this job I'm sure..

My exit strategy is in full swing!.. my new resume is out there, super condensed and americanized by my wife into one easy to view/downlod PDF/Word document but wait thats not all .. I also have all these certificates that mean almost nothing to most employers and a few that does ..

I'm on the job sites, I'm on the city, county, state sites.. If something pops up and I miss it now.. I'm probability in bed sleeping I would "network" only I'm sort of on my own in a lot of ways here... I mean I've done a few courses on networking but I don't think thats what you mean